how stiff do you ride?

my monoshock seemed to be going soft and i was gonna replace them. noticed that i could make adjustments 1-5 (1 stiffest and 5 softest) and was wondering what others ride on? i'm sure it's personal preference some, but was wondering pros and cons of stiff shocks vs. soft shocks.

btw this one was set at the softest (5) and was bottoming out on big bumps and was way too spongey. i'm gonna try it out on 3, but wanted to know what you guys thought about the subject.

happy presidents day (i think...happy whatever-the-reason i have a day off)!

 

I have an 82 yamaha maxim 400 as well (xs400j) Mine was cranked up to super stiff by the P.O. but I dropped it back down to #2 position rides good there but after I lower the rear end i want it a bit stiffer like at 3 or 4.

@ 5 you should be HARD STIFF

at 3 its a standard setting 1 is real soft.

 

Depends on how much Viagra I take...

 

Nice! i was waiting how long it would take to get an answer in the form of a dick joke! kudos danno on thinking outside the "box." lol

 

UMMMM danno workin his fetish?

I don't understand why they allowed his comment on here

 

i'm like 310 pounds, guess where i have mine set

 

KrS14 I'm 225lbs and run the same setting! i think I'll call chacal and inquire about some new shocks!
Shaun

 

I run 270lbs and have it set on #2.
I like the way the back end sinks in the corner.

 

I weigh 210; I keep the preload on the dual-shock 550s at "3" unless I'm carrying a passenger. They seem to most exactly match the forks at that setting with me aboard.

 

I've got mine on my 650 Maxim set to full on stiff but it still doesn't prevent bottoming out. Because I pack my bike pretty heavy on a trip I'm thinking about air shocks. The shocks on it now are toast.

The Buff

 

Same here Buf, set on high and i still bottom out over the smallest bumps, i really try to get little "jump" before i hit railroad tracks or anything so i'm not destroying my tires

I'm not to concerned about changin it tho, still seems fine. i'm just fat lol

 

First - if we assume the shock is in as new condition. We only have a pre-load adjustor. To get the most out of the shock you want to set the preload for your weight and riding style.

Get a friend. Get off your bike and measure from the axel to the seat frame.

Sit on the bike. Measure from the axel to the seat frame.

Get the difference. This is your sag. The preload controls this type of sag. You don't want to be fully sunk when you sit on the bike because you will bottom out, and be at the bottom end of the shock where it's properties change. On the flip side, you don't want the shock so hard that it won't compress when you sit on it - as it will top out instead.

On a race bike you'd set the sag at 25mm range... for the street up to 35mm. On a maxim I'd guess you'd be further out than that... maybe 2-3 inches. What I would do is figure out the total range of motion of the shock, and make sure your sag is no more than the top 1/4. Start there and see how it feels.

Some people will "like" the feel of overly hard... most people like overly soft. If you are just cruising about soft is fine... if you like to have fun in the twisties, you will find getting a bit firmer will make the bike a lot more compliant.

My bike is currently set up for sport/street. It is hard, but not so hard as to be brutal. On track settings, riding a bumpy road feels like getting kicked in the butt with a heavy work boot, while having your palms hit with 2*4s. Not pleasant and also provides worse handling characteristics as you can get wheel skip like that.